Commissioners for the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) believe there's a need for a new daily passenger rail service for travel between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley, and they're taking the idea to Washington, D.C.
According to a press release, RCTC commissioners and staff will head to the nation's capitol in September to speak with federal officials about proposed rail service and request federal funding to help move planning for the project forward.
"CV Rail will be a massive boost for the Coachella Valley, connecting us to employment and educational opportunities, bolstering southern California's economy, improving our air quality and providing necessary transit alternatives to fight climate change," V. Manuel Perez, RCTC chair and Riverside County's 4th District supervisor, said in the release. "CV Rail is about equity for our communities and is an important step for the national revitalization of passenger rail."
Under the recent federal infrastructure bill, which provides funding for inter-city rail, could help pay for a large portion of the proposed project, according to the CVReporter. The proposed rail service would span over 144 miles and include nine stops.
Estimated cost for the project is around $1 billion, but experts believe it would alleviate many issues presented with the areas current transportation system, plus delaying it could add to the project's cost or make it even impossible in the future, the CVReporter reported. When the project is completed, the rail service could mean about 858,380 metric tons less of greenhouse gas emissions with 100,000 less car trips each year.
The RCTC plans to apply for the federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant, and believe other state grants could be available to help fund the project too. According to the press release, commissioners plan to meet with state officials sometime during the fall to ask for their support too.